rogers



- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. ROGERS & J. PLAYER. APPARATUS FOR COATING SHEET METAL.

No. 580,802. PatentedApr. 13, 1897.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

P. ROGERS & J. PLAYER. APPARATUS FOR COATING SHEET META L.

N0.3 6%Q7 80 2. Patented Apr. 13, 1897.

TM: norms PETERS co. mom-mum wunmnrom. n. c.

7 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP ROGERS, OF SWANSEA, AND JOHN PLAYER, OF CLYDACH, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR COATING SHEET METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,802, dated April 13, 1897.

Application filed January 8, 1895. Serial No 534,268. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PHILIP ROGERS, residing at Swansea, and JOHN PLAYER, residing at Clydach, near Swansea, in the .county of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Ooatin g Metal Plates or Sheets with Tin, Lead, or other Metals or Alloys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in machinery or apparatus of the kind described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to us, dated March 22, 1892, No. 471,437, for coating metal plates with tin, lead, or other metals or metallic alloys; and it has for its object to further improve the 0011- struction and operation of such machinery or apparatus and to further increase the working capacity and economy thereof, as we will now proceed to explain by aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein parts corresponding to similar parts in the former specification are indicated by the same reference-characters.

In the said drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other and both partly in vertical section, showing our improved machine. Fig. 3 is a plan with part of the pick-up apparatus omitted, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views to an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is-an end elevation showing, to an enlarged scale, a modified form of clip suitable for short plates.

A machine of the kind referred to according to the present invention comprises a pot A for the molten coating metal or alloy; a grease-box B, containing two complete sets of finishing-rolls G G G G each roll working in a roll-feeding trough K; two flux-boxes G and 0; two cradles H; a clip-bar d, provided with two sets of spring-clips which receive the plates to be coated two at a time, one through each flux-box, carries them down into the molten metal in the pot A, and de livers them through guide-boxes I and the grease-box into the lower pairs of finishingrolls G; a pick-up apparatus (marked, collectively, D) provided with two pairs of mechanical fingers and adapted to automatically remove the finished plates two at a time from the top pairs of finishing-rolls G and either deposit them in a suitable rack,-as described in our said former specification, or place them 011 a table or shelf conveniently arranged for the work-people to clean them or place them on a conveyer that will automatically deliver them into a suitable cleaning-machine, and mechanism for operating the several parts mentioned.

Each of the cradles H, the clip-bar d, having slotted ends forming the lateral jaws d and provided with clips 6 and springs e, the guide-bars c, with which the jaws d of the clip-bar d engage, and the side guide-plates g are or may be constructed as described in our said former specification, No, 471,437. Each end of the clip-bar, however, is provided, according to this invention, with an arm (1 arranged to project upwardly beyond the corresponding jaw d and to work against the guide-bars c in order to prevent the springclips 6 e falling forward; also, the clip-bar d and attached parts are raised and lowered by side levers b, as in our former arrangement,

but these side levers are operated in the improved manner we will now explain.

The side levers are moved into their highest position, as shown, by a counterbalanceweight Z2, which acts through a slotted link or rod 12 on a pin 11*, carried by a lever-arm b, fixed on a shaft a, on which the said side levers b are also fixed, the said link being adjustably connected, as by a pivoted screw t to one end of another lever, b the other end of which, preferably provided with an antifriction-roller b, is kept in contact with a cam 6 fixed 011 a second shaft e As will be seen, the arrangement is such that when the said cam e is turned in the direction of the arrow the side levers are first allowed to fall and lower the clip-bar (1 into the most convenient position for inserting the plates into the spring-clips e, in which position it is held for a time while a circular or non-eccentrio portion e of the cam e is traveling in contact with the antifriction-roller 12 Then the cam allows the side levers to descend to their lowest position, so as to permit the top edges of the plates to pass under the V- shaped ribbed casting or guide f, arranged near the top of the metal-pot A and below the guide-box I, as described in our said former specification, immediately after which the cam, owing to its form, allows the said side levers b to rise under the action of the counterweight z to their highest position, and thereby insert the top edges of the plates between the lower set of finishing-rolls G.

With our former arrangement of mechanism for operating the side levers the cam or crank employed gave positive mot-ion to the side levers on their downward stroke, the slot in the connecting-rod used in that arrangement permitting the upward stroke to be performed only by the side-lever counterbalanceweight, so that in the event of a plate going wrong no injury was done to the machinery. We find, however, that many machines are injured by tools and other articles being placed on the hot plate in the path of the side levers, which are bent upon coming in contact with these obstructions on their downward stroke. The new arrangement of operating mechanism for the said side levers 1) provides perfect relief for both up and down strokes, for when the counterbalance-weight .2 is raised by the cam e and lever W, with roller b the side levers fall by their own weight only, owing to the pin 19*, carried by the lever-arm 7), working freely in the slot 19 in rod b so that if anything prevents the said side levers moving toward their lowest position the force acting to depress them is only that due to their weight (the clip-bar being almost supported by the molten tin in which it is immersed and quite supported in terne alloy) and the cam will continue to raise the counterbalance-weight 2 without damage to any part, as the slot 6 is longer than the full rangement being such as to permit of the springs being more conveniently reset than in our former arrangement, in which the screws become fixed after being in the molten metal for a short time. Extending along each group of clips is a guide-bar e which is riveted to each clip. This bar is arranged to work just clear of the front of the ordinary guide ribs or bars M at the back of the molten-metal pot and prevents the clips 6 falling,

back too far into the spaces between the said ribs or bars, in which case the plates to be coated could not be placed in the nip of the clips. The vertical guide-pieces d on the clip-bar serve to prevent the clips falling forward. The bar 01 is provided at each end with a pin 01 by which it is jointed to the links that serve to connect it with the side levers b.

The pick-up apparatus D, which in general construction, arrangement, and operation is similar to that described in our said prior specification, is constructed with coiled springs lo 'instead of with a weight to give the necessary gripping power to the mechanical fingers n, of which two sets are provided, secured to the vertically-movable operatingrod 0 by a cross-bar. The coiled springs 75*, of which there is one to each movable finger, are arranged in pairs around the pin 12 carrying the movable fingers of each set of fingers, Fig. 5, one end of each spring being arranged to bear against a fixed part connected with the fixed fingers and the other end being connected to or arranged to bear against the corresponding movable finger, so as normally to hold the same in its closed position. Each touch device for opening the fingers to grasp and release the plates comprises, ac-

stroke of the pin 19*, carried by the said leverarm I). On the other hand, should the side levers or clip-bar from any cause become jammed down it will be only the extra weight of the counterbalance 2 above what is required to balance the side levers that tends to bring them up, and the antifriction-roller b on the lever b will be kept from contact withthe cam e altogether or in part, according to the position of the said side lever. In either case no damage can take place.

As will be obvious, the form of the cam 6 can be varied if required.

A modified form of clip device, according to this invention, suitable for short plates is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises the clip-bar d, with vertical guide-pieces d and lateral jaws d to slide on the guide-bars c, bent clips (2, each having a shoulder 6*, on which a plate to be coated can rest, and a curved free end and bent springs 6, each secured to the corresponding bent clips 6 by a stud 6 that may conveniently be about one inch long by onefourth of an inch wide and is arranged to fit in a slot in the spring, which is held in place by a split pin 6 or equivalent means passed through a hole in the stud, as shown, the arcording to this invention, a block 76 adjustably mounted on the touch-rod K and provided with a hinged latch-piece K, that normally rests on projecting wing-pieces of the block 71: the arrangement being such that if by accident or carelessness the touch-bolt 2'", carried by the extensions of the pivoted mechanical fingers n, should get below the said latch-piece the said latch-piece will he lifted upon the said touch-bolt, rising in contact with its under side, so as to permit the said bolt to move freely upward, after which it will fall back into its place on the wingpieces 70 ready to again open the pivoted fingers at the required time.

The improved machine is designed to increase the output of plates of a low grade, in making which the finishing rolls are run much slower than when a better-finish plate is required; also, to lessen cost of labor and economize materials as compared with the results obtained from other constructions of apparatus heretofore used for like purposes.

The driving-shaft is connected with and driven by a drive-shaft 5, extending longitudinally of the machine, and cross-shafts 6, carrying worm-gears 7 ,meshin g with one shaft of each pair of rolls G the longitudinal and cross shafts being operatively connected by means of the bevel-gears 9.

What we claim is- 1. In a machine for coating metal plates and sheets, the combination with a molten-metal pot, and fixed vertical guide-bars therein, of the vertically-movable plate-carrier consisting of the horizontal bar at adapted at its end to slide on said guide-bars and provided with spring-clips e, e and at its ends with a vertical arm d arranged to extend upward above the guided ends of the guide-bar and to work against said guide-bars a substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for coatingmetal plates and sheets, the combination with a pot A having ribs M at the back thereof, and fixed vertical guide-bars c, of a vertically-movable platecarrier comprising a horizontal bar cl adapted to slide vertically on said guide-bars and provided with vertical guide-pieces d at each end arranged to work against said guides c and with spring-clips each consisting of a bent clip e having a shoulder 6* and a curved free end, a bent spring 6, a stud 2 secured to said bent clip and extending through a slot in said bent spring, and a pin e extending through said stud on the outer side of said bent spring, and a guide-bar e extending along and secured to said bent clips 6 and arranged to work just clear of the ribs M on said pot substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.

3. In a machine for coating metal plates or sheets, the combination with the moltenmetal pot, of a vertically-movable plate-carrier, levers from which said carrier is suspended, a weight-carrier connected with said levers so that the one can move vertically to a limited extent independently of the other,

a counterbalance-weight supported by said weight-carrier and adapted when suspended by said levers, to raise the same and attached plate-carrier, and means for raising and lowering said Weight-carrier and weight at the required times, substantially as herein described for the purposes specified.

4. In a machine for coating metal plates or sheets, the combination with the moltenmetal pot, of a vertically-movable plate-carrier, levers from which said plate-carrier is suspended, a lever-arm in connection with said levers, a rod connected by a pin-and-slot connection with said lever-arm and carrying a counterbalance-weight adapted when the rod is suspended from said lever-arm to raise said levers and attached plate-carrier, a lever adj ustably connected with said rod, and a cam for operating said rod and attached parts, substantially as herein described for the purposes specified.

5. In a machine for coating metal plates or sheets, a pick-up apparatus having pairs of mechanical fingers n whereof the movable fingers of each two pairs of fingers are carried by a pin 02 and provided with arms or extensions 6* connected by a pin t the said pin 92 being provided with a pair of coiled springs 10 each having one of its ends arranged to bear against a fixed part connected with the fixed fingers and the other end arranged to normally hold the corresponding pivoted finger in the closed position when the said pin 4) is free, and a tappet arranged to open the pair of connected movable fingers at the required times against the action of said springs, substantially as herein described.

6. In a machine for coating metal plates or sheets, the combination with a pick-up apparatus having pairs of mechanical fingers 07. adapted to automatically remove coated plates from the coating apparatus, of tappets arranged to open said fingers and each comprising a touch-rod 70, a block adjustably mounted on said rod and provided with a projecting part or parts, and a latch-piece hinged or pivoted to said block and normally resting on the projecting part or parts thereof, substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.

'7. A metal-coating machine comprising an elongated dipping-pot, a plurality of platecarriers for said pot, a driving-shaft extending throughout the length of the pot above and at one side thereof, counter-shafts at each end of the driving'shaft meshing therewith and extending over opposite ends of the pot, two sets of rolls situated over the pot and extending longitudinally thereof, the adjacent ends of the shafts and rolls having intermeshing gears, and plate-carriers operatively connected with said driving-shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP ROGERS. JOHN PLAYER.

WVitnesses:

BERNARD J. MINERs, II. WILSON PATON. 

